allen



@uitrit gister; germi @fitte Letters Patent No. 73,768, 7Zateol January 28, 18.68.

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TO ALL WHOM. IT MAY CONCERN:

.Be it known that I, H. R. ALLEN, M. D., of Charlcstornin the county of Coles, und State of Illinois,have invented a new and improved Apparatus for Straightening Dcformed Limbs; and I'do hereby declare that the following .is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art'to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming' part of this specification, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved apparatus from the outside.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same from the inner side.

Figure 3 is a plan viewof the foot-plates.

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the foot-plates through the line a: as', iig. 3.

Figure 5 is a c`ross-seetion of the foot-plates through the line y y', fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a detail section through the line e e', iig. 1.

Figure 7 is a detail edge view of D D, iig. 1.'

Figure 8 is a detail section through the line w tu', iig. 2.

Similar letters lof reference indicate corresponding parts. i

This invention refers tecn apparatus for overcoming the deformity of the lower extremities, when such deformity#consists` in theabnormrrl 'exion'efone or' both ofthe .lower limbs, as in 'some forms of.. anchylosis and taltlpes euZgas,(club-i`ootg' so called.) It consists of a frame 'provided with straps to retain thelimb firmly Within it, and further providing the -said frame with joints for iiexing the same to tit the limb, together with springs for exerting a continual straightening-tension, and other devices perfecting the whole, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. I l

In the drawings, A is the upper frame-plate, having a curved brace, B, riveted firmly thereto in the manner shown, for the purpose of providing a hollowframe of suitable size and form for the reception of the upper ,part of'the human leg'. G is the lower frame, having curved braces D D for the reception of the lower part of the limb. Those t'wo frames are pivotedil together by stout rivets a a', which permit the frames to be aecommodated `to the ilexed position of the limb to be treated.

Straps E, F, and G, buttoned or buckled as shown, confine the limb firmly within the aforesaid frames. H is a longer or elastiestrap, attached to the upper part ofthe frame A by a rivet-button' similar to the straps E and F, but for another purpose, as will be hereinafter'described.

I and J are the foot-plates. To the-foot-plate'J are riveted the side-plates K, by which the foot-plate J is pivoted to the lower frame C by stout rivets, as shown at b, thus permitting the foot-plates to be turned downward when applying the apparatus to the limb, and the movement of the foot when the frame is so applied. This movement also serves a purpose in'conneetion with its spring-attachments, all of which will be duly set forth. The foot-plate J is further provided with 'two lateral bearing-plates, and M, which are riveted to the soles of the foot-plates, and are'curved to conform somewhat t0 the natural curvature of the foot at the point of Contact with the same. These plates have a partial movement on their rivets, e, so that they will adjust themselves to the foot when pressed against it. '.The foot-plate I is formed with an extension, d, as shown, and is pivoted by a stout rivet, e, to the plate J, so that the plate I is provided withA a lateral movement for a purpose t0-he shown. The plate I has two movable side-plates, N and` O, which are curved to conform to the foot, und one of these plates is, like the plates L and M,Yselfadjusting, and for bearing against the side of the foot, in a manner tobe described. `l

The foot-plates I and J are also connected laterally by means of a spring-attachment shown at figs. l, 3, and 4. It consistsof a wire, j", rubber springs, g, washers, h,`and burr, z'. This wire rests in holes through the Shoulder-lugs aagainst which latter the springs g abut, when their tension is exerted by screwing up the burr z. Slotsj in. the plate J permit the passage of the strap Gr. A metallic strap, P, is riveted to the side-plates K, as shown; and terminates in links Z for the passage of the foot-strap G, as will be more fully described.

To provide the proper vertical tension to the foot-plates, spring-attachments on each side of the frame, and about in the region lof the ankle-joint, as shown in iigs. 1 and 2, are employed. These attachments are similar in principle to the one previously described, as they each consist of a wire,f, rubber spring, y), washer, h', and burr, z".

The wire passes through a shoulder-lug, e, attached by a stout rivet, m,"to the framo-p'lateC. v The shoulder. llugs c, like the shoulder-lugs kof the spring-attachment first described, are allowed a` slight movement on their rivets, which permits .the wire to accommodate its position to any changed position of the foot-plates, which would not be possible if the shoulder-lugs were rigidly riveted.

In the lig. 2 a portion of the rubber spring and wire is broken awayvto exhibit the rivets and shoulder-lugs m and 7c respectively. In these latter spring-attachments thewires f pass vthrough slots in the shoulder-lugsv cinsteod of' holes, as in the shoulder-lugs k', and by means et' slots the wires f are withdrawn to admit of' their being unhooked from the holes in the segmental plates Q now about to be described.

On the same rivet, b, that secures the side-plates K to theframe-plates C, as before described, is attached a segmental plate, Q, which isrigidly secured by anotherrivet at n, which holds it firmly to the side-plate. K.

i This same rivet 'n also holds the metallic strap P, which latter is allowed a slight,movement on the rivet for the better adjustment of the strap Gr. The lower ends ofthe wiresf are'hooked for the purpose of catching into4 any'one of the holes shown in the segmental plate Q:

By meansof the spring-attachments just described, the foot-plates are held in a horizontal position, and by turning th burrs z", any required amount of tension can be brought upon the foot of the patient, to bring' and retain it in the desired position. ,I

i spring-attachment, as shown in figs. I, Q, 6, and 7, is for the purpose ot' producing a continuous tension 'on"the'limb, wherebythe anchylotic rigidity of the knee-joint may be ameliorated, and eventually overcome by the constant action of the springs. This attachment 'consists of two bars, R R, sliding on each other with easy contact, and held together by slides o o, whi'ch latter have shoulders le It to serve a similar purpose to -those before described, for the straightening-tension is exerted by turning theV burrs z'. These bars R R lap cachl other arshort distance, and the lower lug is rivetedto the upper bar, and upper lug to the lower bar, whereby, when the springs y are compressed, the `bars are actuated to extend themselves past each other, and thus rstraighten the frame-platos containing thelimb, as one extremity of each bar is pivoted to the curved braces vB or D, as shown. I v i In fig. l'is shown an auxiliary spring-attachment, similar in principle to one previously described. It com'- prises'fthe segmental plate Q, rubber spring g, hooked wiref", washer t, and slotted shoulder-lug c.

The segmental plate Q is riveted to the pivot-rivet a at thejunction of the upper and lower frame-plates A and C, as shown,vand is held rigidly to the frame-plate CA by an additional rivet, a. This auxiliary attachs ment is to be employed when the linee-joint is so rigid as not to yield appreciably to the tensi'on of the sliding- `bar attachment, though eitherone may be dispensed with in cases where'the rigidity of the'joint yields to the eiect of the'othein y On the inner side of the apparatus,'that is, at the knee-joint opposite to the segmental plate` Q', is a lockplate, S. This plate is. made inA the form shown, and is pivoted on the junction-rivet a of the frameplates A fandC.

Holes gfiqi, tc., are made in a segmental arch, and a hole, g, is made in a'projection from the said arch.

This plate isi-lor loeltingthe apparatus atany desired angle that the holes g permit, when it is deemed expedient vto retain. thezlimb in a certain position, yet without any additional tension on the limb. It alsoconfers strength and rigidity to the apparatus. y Y l When i.t is desired to remove the tension ofthe spring-attachments, the lock-plate, which is of steel,'ard will spring slightly, is slipped around till-the hole g catches on the stud 7.

When the limb'is'straight, the opposite hole g will catch on the stud t, but if thelimb is ilexed, some one ofthe other` holes gg will catch on the stud and thus the joint ofthe apparatus will b e held firmly-at that, certain angle. The limb can then be relieved from the constant tension ofthe spring-*attachments before set forth.

In applying and employing this invention, the foot-plates are dropped on their junctionpivot l by removing the wircsf of the spring-attachments`from the slots in the shoulder-lugs c, before described. The wirescan then be unhooked from the segmental plates Q, and tlie foot-plates be permitted to drop down, as before mentioned. The apparatus is then applied' to the limb, and the footfplates raised, and all the straps buckled or buttoned in thelmanner shown, as firmly as the patient'can bear. The burrs of theseveral springattaehm'ents are then turned so as 'to bring a firm and constant pressure to` bear upon the jointor'joints of the'limb, which will eventually accomplish the yielding of the anchyl'tic rigidity with more or less perfect result, according to the standing of thecase. 'I I The horizontal spring-attachment first described is for the purpose of accomplishing the same resultin case there be any malformation' of the foot, as tdlz'pcs nalgas, or clubfoot. The gs. 1 and.2, which are 'reverse sides of thesame limb with the apparatus applied, exhibit the manner of treating the foot.

The bearing-plateL holds the foot at the middle point, while the plate O, on the movable plat-el', bears against the ball of the foot, and actuated bythe springattachment,as shown, tends to straighten the foot by constant pressure. A bearing-plate, M, bears against the inner end of the heel of the foot to keep the-latter firm. The strap Gis passed first through one ring, l, then downward-'through the slots jj,.then upward through the similar slot, then along by the-*side ofthe heel, and c'rossing'over the instep and through the opposite ring Z; then the ends are buckled across theinstep, as shown at Z. The application ofthe strap is nearly identical .with that of the heel-strap of a slrate. i

The drawings clearlyset forth the position, form, arrangement, and relativedmensions of the parts of the invention. i i l v The iigs;1and 2 represent reverse sides of the -samc limb, with the apparatus applied, but in iig. 1 the limb. `is not quite straightened. In iig. 2 the limb is represented straight, as the beneficial result of the treatment.

In some of the figures the rubber springs do not abut against the shoulder-lugs as they would "when the bnrrs were screwed up in practice, but are left apart, the better toexpose the lugs to view.

Thus, by the above-described pivoted frame and spring-attachments, rigidity'of the knee and ankle-joints is overcomc, andby means of the pivoted foot plate I and thc bearing-plates before described, the inward-fixed curvature of the foot is removed. The framing, in practice, is of steel, and the straps of leather.

Metal springs may be substituted for the rubber springs for the same object, which is to provide :inelastic yet firm and constant tension, which shall act eiliciently f or thc end in view, yet permit a slight yielding, whereby the apparatus may be tolerated by the patient.

. To the upper extremity of the outer frame-plate A is attached the strap H, before described'. This strappasses around the rear p atofthe thigh, as shown, and is fastened to some fixed point on the opposite side of the patient, for the purpose of exerting a constant tension to turn the whole limb outward, and thus prevent the tendency of the limb to contract an inward and more or less xed condition, which a long application of the apparatus might in some cases cause.

If, in the incipient stages of anchylosis of the knee and ankle-joints, this principle were resorted to,`the disease could' be successfully combatted, and with little inconvenience compared to the result.

This invention is particularly desirableffor the treatment of children aillicted in the manner set forth i'n the foregoing, and thousands of vadults are debarred from the enjoyment of a more useful and happylife by the absence in surgical practice heretofore of an apparatus as described in the subject-matter of the foregoing.

I am aware that frames and splints somewhat resembling my invention are in daily use in surgical practice, but nothing for the objects set forth in the above has been contemplated in such appliances, or is possible with them.

The apparatus is easily constructed and within the means-of all, and can be worn without interfering with such movement as the nature of the rigid `joint orjoints will permit.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Potenty 1. The employment of ajointed frame, substantially as shown, at A B D C D', and straps E F G, in combination with any constant spring-tension applied to the said frame for the purpose of straightening it when on the limb, and thereby overcoming` any anchylotic rigidity of the'knee or ankle-joints of the said limb, all

as setforth. v

2. The vertically-movable foot-plate J, substantially a's shown and described', in combination -with its proper springattachment, as described, or other` equivalent device, and frame-plates C, all as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The laterally-moving foot-plate I, in combination with the bearing-plates L and O and lateral springattachment, all substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth. l

4. The lock S, substantially as shown and described, or other equivalent device, in combination with the frames A and C, substantially'as and for the purpose shown and' described.

5. The spring-attachment, consisting of the hooked wire f', shoulder-lugs 7c', springs g', and burra', constructed and operated s'substantially as shown and described, in combination with the foot-plate J and frameplates C, for the purpose of removing anchylosis, all as set forth. Y

6. The foot-strap G, or other equivalent device, in combination with the movable foot-plates J and I of an apparatus for straightening feet or lower limbs, all `substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth. i l

7. The elastic strap I-I, or other equivalent device, applied, substantially as shown and described, to the frame-plate A-of an apparatus for removing anchylosis, all as and ,for the purpose set forth. v

8. The metallic strap P, or other equivalent device, in combination with the strap G and movable l`oot plates J and I, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this 15th day of November, 1867.

H. Il.. ALLEN, M. D.

Witnesses:

SAML WRIGHT, OsoAa J. R. HANNA. 

